Diane Lane joins Matthew Weiner’s The Romanoffs

Diane Lane is the latest star name to sign up for Matthew Weiner’s new series, The Romanoffs.

The Amazon original production, which marks Weiner’s first small-screen project since Mad Men, is an anthology show that will follow multiple stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family.

The project has been surrounded by buzz ever since it was announced, which has helped to attract one heck of a cast, from Mad Men veterans Christina Hendricks and John Slattery to Jack Huston, Amanda Peet, Aaron Eckhart and the legend that is Isabelle Huppert. More recently, though, that buzz has become toxic, as the show was initially a co-production between Amazon Studios and The Weinstein Company. Since multiple accusations of sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein were made public last month, Amazon has moved quickly to cut all of its ties with The Weinstein Company, which had not yet provided funding for the project: Amazon is now moving ahead with the series as sole producer.

Lane’s arrival in the ensemble – reported by Variety – will be welcomed by Amazon Studios, as it replaces several of its male execs, who have departed in the weeks since the Weinstein scandal. The Oscar-nominated actress, known for her roles in Unfaithful, HBO’s Cinema Verite and CBS’ Lonesome Dove, will next be seen as Martha Kent in Justice League.

The Romanoffs will be released by Amazon Prime Video in 2018.

Corey Stoll, Paul Reiser, Janet Montgomery join The Romanoffs

19th September 2017

Corey Stoll, Paul Reiser and Janet Montgomery are among the latest additions to Matthew Weiner’s new show, The Romanoffs.

The series, which is at Amazon Studios, is an anthology show that will follow multiple stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family.

The project has been surrounded by buzz ever since it was announced, not only because of Amazon Studios’ involvement, but because it marks Weiner’s follow-up to the inimitable Mad Men. That’s certainly been enough to attract one heck of a cast, from Mad Men veterans Christina Hendricks and John Slattery to Jack Huston, Amanda Peet, Aaron Eckhart and the legend that is Isabelle Huppert.

Now, another wave of big names are rounding out the ensemble, with House of Cards and The Strain’s Corey Stoll signing up, alongside Girls’ Andrew Rannells, Odd Mom Out’s Mike Doyle, Turn’s JJ Feild, Salem’s Janet Montgomery and Paul Reiser, Aliens and Whiplash star and alumni of Amazon Studios, thanks to his recurring role in Red Oaks.

There is no word yet on further plot details, character information a release date. In the meantime, it may just be easier if we report the people who haven’t been cast in The Romanoffs.

Mad Men crew get back together for Matthew Weiner’s Romanoffs

1st September 2017

Matthew Weiner is getting the Mad Men crew back together for his new series, The Romanoffs – well, most of them.

The series, which is at Amazon Studios, is an anthology show that will follow multiple stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family. Little more than that is known about the project, which has been surrounded by buzz ever since it was announced, not only because of Amazon Studios’ involvement, but because it marks Weiner’s follow-up to the inimitable Mad Men.

He’s already wasted no time in reuniting with some familiar faces, including Christina Hendricks and John Slattery. Now, he’s reuniting with the team behind the camera of his AMC drama, with Eckhart’s addition to the ensemble only raises the already absurd level of star wattage.

The Romanoffs will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in 2018.

John Slattery and Christina Hendricks reunite for Matthew Weiner’s Amazon series

5th August 2017

John Slattery and Christina Hendricks will both star in Matthew Weiner’s new Amazon series.

The Mad Men creator signed a deal with Amazon Studios last year to bring his much-anticipated return to the small screen to Amazon Prime Video. Little has been revealed about the show, with initial reports only suggesting that it would be a contemporary anthology programme set in several locations around the world.

Now, over six months after the $70 million agreement, some details are beginning to emerge about the project: called The Romanoffs, it will follow separate stories about people who believe they are descendants of the titular Russian royal family. It’s an intriguing premise, one that has had a host of impressive names lined up to appear, including Mad Men’s Hendricks and none other than Isabelle Huppert. Also joining the ensemble are Jack Huston, Amanda Peet and Marthe Keller.

Hendricks’ involvement is a promising sign of Mad Men-worthy quality, but Joan’s not the only Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce alumni attached to The Romanoffs: John Slattery will reunite with Weiner for the series, while Jon Hamm is among the names rumoured to be circling roles.

Weiner will direct all episodes of the series, which will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in 2018.

Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner heads to Amazon for new series

27th October 2016

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner is heading to Amazon for a new drama series.

Weiner’s AMC drama, starring Jon Hamm as Don Draper, has been one of the most acclaimed shows of recent years, regarded by some as one of the best ever made. Ever since its finale, then, the industry has been eagerly awaiting news of his next project, as well as whether he would work with a streaming service. While he directed an episode of Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, though, it is Amazon that has emerged as his new home.

Amazon has commissioned an eight-episode series from Weiner, bypassing its usual process of first ordering a pilot to screen to customers. Little is known of the show, but it is reported to be a contemporary anthology that will be set in multiple locations around the world. Weiner will create, executive produce and direct the seres, as part of a deal that has been pegged at around $70 million.

The show will be co-produced by The Weinstein Company and Amazon Studios, after the streaming giant brought Harvey Weinstein and TWC president/COO David Glasser on board.

“In a time when there are so many options for entertainment, it’s been tremendous to see how Roy Price and Amazon have taken center stage by distinguishing themselves through bold choices,” Weiner said in a statement to Deadline. “I am truly excited to have this opportunity to work with risk takers like them and Harvey (Weinstein) and the Weinstein Company who have a proven, longstanding commitment to creative voices and innovation.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Matthew Weiner on his new project,” added Harvey. “He is an incredible storyteller whose work on ‘Mad Men’ elevated television and kick started a new era of innovative programming with compelling and addicting television content. We’re looking forward to creating the next big series with him.”

The next big question the deal raises is how the show will be distributed. When Mad Men was wrapping up in 2015, Weiner told The Hollywood Reporter that he prefers episodic syndication, as opposed to the all-at-once binge-watch approach.

“I would try to convince them to let me roll them out so at least there was just some shared experience,” he spoke of the possibility of working with a VOD service. “I love the waiting; I love the marination. When you watch an entire season of a show in a day, you will definitely dream about it, but it’s not the same as walking around the whole week, saying, ‘God, Pete really pissed me off.’ And then at the end of the week, saying, ‘When he said he had nothing, that really hurt.’ I remember people saying that. You can reconsider it. And you see it pop up in your life. I feel like you should be able to be as specific as you possibly can, and let that sit with people. I loved having the period in between the shows, and it probably is the end of it.”

But he added: “I do love the idea of pressing that button and getting it right away and getting as many as you can take.”

Amazon has adopted both strategies in the past, not just for international acquisitions, such as Mr. Robot or Halt and Catch Fire, which are added to Amazon Prime Video the day after their transmission in the US: episodes of Ripper Street Season 5 were released weekly last year, while episodes of Clarkson, Hammond and May’s The Grand Tour will arrive on a weekly basis this November.

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